The Forbidden City, the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, represents the essence of the traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment. The palace is known for its harmonious layout and we can learn from this structure of the past for building our present and future. This part of the festival introduces the audience to some basic cultural ideas, and some of the cultural attitudes and mentalities in traditional Chinese architecture.

Programmes
Performance: The Forbidden City
Kunqu Opera: A Tale of the Forbidden City
Exhibition: The Forbidden City
Public Seminar: The Conservation, Presentation and Significance of The Forbidden City
Lecture Series: Aesthetics of Chinese Architecture

“The Forbidden City” is a brand new production of the “Multimedia Architecture Music Theatre Series” by Mathias Woo. The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City is the best-preserved palace and the largest ancient imperial structure in the world. It was symmetrically built along the north-south central axis of the capital city of Beijing. The Forbidden City is deemed to be the summit of Chinese architecture. Audience would be led into appreciating the aesthetics of the structure for a taste of Chinese history and culture.

Anthony Wong plays the role of a swallow flying over the palace, witnessing the various emotions with the passing of the seasons and the passing of dynasties in this imperial structure; beholding birth, sickness and death, and the splendour of the emperor/s played by Kunqu Opera artist Shi Xiaomei; and discoursing on the concept of being “just and open” as written on the traditional signboard for the throne room.

This performance is sponsored by:

Commissioned by Zuni Icosahedron in 2009 with sponsorship from CASH Music Fund.
In Cantonese and Mandarin with Chinese and English surtitles. Running time is approximately 90 mins without intermission.

“A Tale of The Forbidden City” is a new commission of Kunqu performance. Kunqu, also known as Kunqu Opera, incorporates singing, dance and literature, and is a showcase of a variety of performing art forms. In 2001, UNESCO declared Kunqu Opera as one of the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. In this performance, the audience will be introduced to the basic concept of Chinese traditional architecture through Kunqu Opera.

The Chongzhen Emperor, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, meets the spirit of Kuai Xiang, the architect, who designed the Forbidden City Palace. Under the guide of the architect, Chongzhen takes his last stroll along the Forbidden City, before the end of the dynasty revealing the building intention of the world's largest wooden-structure palace city.

This performance is sponsored by:

With Chinese and English surtitles.Running time is approximately 90 mins without intermission.

The Forbidden City is the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. It was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The palace was symmetrically built along the north-south central axis of the capital city of Beijing, and since it was the residence of the emperor, the son of heaven, ordinary people were forbidden from the divine structure and it is why the Forbidden City is so called.

The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City represents the essence and culmination of the traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment. In spite of its countless complex structures and buildings, the imperial city is known for its harmonious layout and deemed to be the summit of Chinese architecture.

Everything is impressive about the Forbidden City — the sheer size of its successive empty courtyards and buildings, or the large steps with carved stone bas-reliefs. The Chinese also believed in the mystical symbolism of numbers, and assimilated them into the palace. The palace was decorated with many motifs and symbols of imperial power. These are architectural expressions of Confucian ideology. Nearly 600 years after it was built, the Forbidden City is still undoubtedly one of the greatest wonders of the world.

Scholars, architects, museum curators, artists from the US and across the Strait will be giving lectures and holding discussions on the history, conservation, presentation and significance of the Imperial Palace, with reference to the research done by these speakers on the topic. The public is welcome to participate.

Sponsored by:Supported by: Hong Kong Museum of Art

*Limited seats; available on a first come first served basis. Advance booking is essential.
For enquiries or reservation, please contact Ricky Cheng at 2893 8704.
In Mandarin, Cantonese and English with simultaneous interpretation.

“The Forbidden City National Arts Education Programme” is a programme with the aim to introduce traditional Chinese architecture to the audience through various art forms and creative experiments, including multi-media music performances, exhibitions, seminars and workshops. ‘The Forbidden City Creative Workshop’, will explore the ways to approach Chinese architecture with students through innovative experiments with sound, video, space and text, to find new perspectives to look at the various facets and phases of traditional Chinese arts. (Note: Students taking part in ‘The Forbidden City Creative Workshop’ are required to have attended ‘The Forbidden City Exhibition’ and at least one performance in the ‘The Forbidden City Project’)

Duration for each guided tour: 30 mins (approx.)
Maximum number of people for each guided tour: 25
Guided Tour for The Forbidden City Exhibition led by official Festival Guides are available to schools.

Conducted in Cantonese.

Sponsored by:

*Limited seats; available on a first come first served basis. Advance booking is essential.For enquiries or reservation of “The Forbidden City National Arts Education Programme”, please contact Ricky Cheng at 2893 8704.

Programme commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Zuni Icosahedron is the Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Zuni Icosahedron is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.